What is Za'atar and How to Use It (BEST Za'atar Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

What is zaatar and how do you use it? ›

Za'atar can be used as a seasoning, to finish dishes and as a condiment. Use za'atar anywhere you want to add or accentuate bright, herbaceous and earthy flavors, and in dishes that would benefit from a nutty, toasty crunch. Use it as a spice rub for grilled or roasted proteins including chicken, beef, lamb or fish.

Season meat or seafood with za'atar: Sprinkle za'atar on chicken, beef, or seafood before cooking. It gives a great flavor to the protein of your choice. Use za'atar on roasted vegetables: Toss chopped vegetables or chickpeas with olive oil and za'atar seasoning before roasting for an earthy flavor.

Even though it varies greatly depending on where you are in the Middle East (specific recipes are sometimes closely-guarded secrets!), za'atar is generally a combination of dried oregano, thyme, and/or marjoram (woodsy and floral), with sumac (tangy and acidic) and toasted sesame seeds (nutty and rich).

Za'atar mixture is commonly employed in the Mediterranean diet and is rich of bioactive compounds. Za'atar components modulate gut microbiota, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and obesity. The combined action of Za'atar components might generate beneficial effects for human health.

Anti-inflammatory Properties: Many of the herbs in za'atar, like thyme and oregano, contain compounds that possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially aiding in reducing inflammation in the body.

There have been studies claiming that regular consumption of za'atar in your diet can improve your brainpower and cognition. The spice blend contains circulation-boosting power due to its rich mineral content that can enhance your brain and incite neural activity.

What is the best way to store Za'atar and the Za'atar spread? The dried Za'atar blend can be stored in a cabinet, pantry, or in the fridge to preserve shelf life even longer. It is best to keep your Za'atar Extra Virgin Olive Oil condiment spread in a cabinet, pantry, on counter, and not in the fridge.

What is it used for? Dust on dips such as labneh or hummus. Mix with olive oil to make a coating to spread on flatbreads or as a dip for breads or vegetables. Coat roasted vegetables or chicken with that same blend.

The two things to remember about zaatar is that it will burn and become bitter at high temperatures and that it loses aroma and pungency with age.

What do we call Zaatar in English? ›

Zaatar or Za'tar (zaah-tur) is a common noun in the Arabic language and refers to both a Middle-Eastern herb spice mixture and importantly a distinct herb plant in the mint family. The herbal plant is referred to in English as bible hyssop or Syrian oregano, but the mixture is just called zaatar.

Za'atar compounds have also been studied from a gastrointestinal perspective, concerning both gut microbiota and gastrointestinal diseases. Antioxidants such as Za'atar polyphenols may provide beneficial effects in the complex interplay between the diet, gut microbiota, and intestinal permeability.

Za'atar is both the name for wild thyme, a herb that grows primarily in the hills of the eastern mediterranean and most importantly, the name of a spice mix that has many variations in the middle east. “There are 22 herb species referred to as za'atar in the region.

Za'atar, in the amounts typically consumed, is not a significant source of any nutrients. However, like many herbs and spices, za'atar does add nutrition to foods due to the presence of phenolic compounds found in thyme and oregano, which have powerful antioxidant properties.

Zaatar or Za'tar (zaah-tur) is a common noun in the Arabic language and refers to both a Middle-Eastern herb spice mixture and importantly a distinct herb plant in the mint family. The herbal plant is referred to in English as bible hyssop or Syrian oregano, but the mixture is just called zaatar.

Za'atar has been shown to help people with bronchitis stop coughing fits, and dried sumac, which is one of the main ingredients, has been shown to lower blood pressure and help people with type 2 diabetes.

Some uncommon Middle Eastern spices such as sumac, za'atar, and dukkah have become my go-to's. They're perfect on fish, salads, meats, and vegetables. Sumac is a red-purple powder that adds a lovely lemony flavor and gorgeous color. Za'atar is a lemony hyssop or thyme, sumac, and sesame seed blend.

Za'atar is both the name for wild thyme, a herb that grows primarily in the hills of the eastern mediterranean and most importantly, the name of a spice mix that has many variations in the middle east. “There are 22 herb species referred to as za'atar in the region. It is the essential oils they have in common.